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In conversation with…

We recently caught up with DeeDee and asked her a few questions around the future of work.

What are the top 3 biggest challenges and/or opportunities you see in the FoW space?

Challenges are: to refocus on basic human skills such as one-to-one and group communication so to best use technology and not be a slave to it; reimagining/redesigning jobs and organisational structures and operations; to align the burgeoning project work culture with a tax and benefits system; developing new ways to manage and develop workforces that operate remotely.

Opportunities: to redefine “talent” and all of the challenges listed above!

What are the main Future of Work trends you’re currently seeing from your market coverage and insight?

A lot of “awareness-raising” going on about increasing gender diversity in certain roles and in certain career specialisms but not a lot of problem solving going on. A focus on trying to fit working parents and careers into existing kinds of roles. Some engagement in developing flexible work spaces instead of committing to long-term office leases. Much greater emphasis on creating apprenticeships. Mobility comes in different forms and varieties and has different purposes. In global mobility terms, there is an ever greater focus on talent issues within global mobility functions and on the selection of talent to mobilise and in what capacity – a standard tour of duty (two to three years), a secondment or a project which could take on a “disruptive talent” aspect.

Guest Blog with Blackboard

Institutions recognise how new technology can enhance the learning and teaching experience for staff and students. Increasingly they are looking to technology to support them in achieving their strategic goals such as:

Improving the quality of the student experience and positively impacting student performance, satisfaction and retention

Responding to the rising expectations and the increasingly diverse support needs of the student population

Extending institutional reach and developing new markets through flexible delivery

However, at Blackboard we know that there are obstacles to the adoption of technology that institutions must overcome. Change of any kind is daunting, particularly when dealing with long-established methods and systems.

That’s why we have prepared a small book that shows how to make it happen, suggesting practical tips, ideas, resources and real-life examples. We’ve built the story around six key characteristics required of a successful adoption project:

Leadership from the top

Institutional commitment and investment

Robust and reliable infrastructure

Effective and available support for academic staff

Ability to demonstrate the benefits to the student and staff experience

Want to find out more about our views on the future of Edtech? Blackboard International’s Senior Director of Industry Management,Dr Demetra Katsifli will be taking part in the Industry Leaders Panel Discussion: ‘Supporting Student Experience and Success in the 21st Century’ live at Future Edtech at 10am on 2nd June.

Complimentary Webinar Invitation:Leverage the tactical and strategic value of ICT in new institutional operating models.
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At a time when the Higher Education sector is experiencing its most dynamic period of change to date, it’s even more imperative to capitalise on the importance of marrying up technology with the institution business needs and key strategic objectives.

Join Nicole Engelbert (Director, Research & Analysis, Industries, Ovum) for a high-level discussion on how to successfully integrate ICT into institutional strategy and decision-making to deliver transformational change. Hear how to empower your institution to be more flexible and agile in the delivery of services and academic programs, accelerating the pace of innovation and ultimately improving its standing.

This complimentary 30 minute webinar is in partnership with Ovum’s Future EdTech 2015 Conference and will also feature a guest speaker from the 50+ strong conference speaker faculty line-up.

This webinar is brought to you by Ovum in partnership with the Future Edtech Conference 2015.

Informed by input from our expert Advisory Board and exclusive Analysts’ insight, this two-day conference is Europe’s ONLY event offering undiluted Higher Education focus and will have the impact lacking from larger, less focused events. You will be able to maximise the return on your time out of the office by making valuable connections and benefiting from an agenda that is 100% relevant to your institution’s needs.

110+ of your peers have already registered. If you have not already done so, secure your free place today.

Join 250+ senior leaders from IT, administration, e-learning and academia in London this June at Europe’s ONLY event with an undiluted focus on marrying up technology with institutional goals in higher education.

Informed by input from our expert Advisory Board and exclusive Analysts’ insight, this two-day conference will have the impact lacking from larger, less focused events. You will be able to maximise the return on your time out of the office and tailor your conference itinerary around your most pressing knowledge gathering and networking needs.

WHY ATTEND FUTURE EDTECH?

A unique opportunity for:

Administration leaders to frame the technology debate within a wider strategic perspective of how to improve student success, enrich the student experience, and thrive in the new education economy

IT and learning technology leaders to contextualise technology innovations and their deployment within changing institutional models and align the IT agenda with institutional goals and strategy

Academia and pedagogy leaders to assess the value that new technology brings to the student experience, teaching innovation and technology enabled best in class teaching and learning

A cross-functional approach to address the issues at the core of transformational change in HE and find collaborative solutions to fulfil institutional goals

Visit the website for more information about the event and to view our fantastic lineup of speakers!

Upcoming webinar: CES 2015 – Ovum’s take on the major news and themes of the show on January 22 at 5pm (12pm EST)

Join Rob Gallagher, Director Research & Analysis; Jamie Moss, Senior Analyst; Paul Jackson, Practice Lead; Ronan DeRenesse, Lead Analyst; and Francesco Radicati, Senior Analyst in this 45-minute webinar where they will discuss the key trends that they uncovered at the North America’s largest event for the connected consumer electronics and technology sectors.

They will assess the implications for telecoms operators, media companies, technology companies, and device manufacturers as well as looking forward to how CES trends will shape 2015.

Key questions this webinar will answer:

What major trends emerged at CES 2015?

What connected car developments and embedded connectivity tech and business model developments are coming?

Event background

Taking place at the Waldorf Hilton in London, on 28-29 April 2015, the Smart to Future Cities conference has gone from strength to strength over recent years, charting the transition of the smart city concept from definition to implementation as IoT enables applications that benefit citizens and urban planners. In April 2014 we hosted over 250 industry experts, 80 of whom were from international city administrations.

The conference is renowned for being the right size for constructive discussion and networking where cities can talk directly to other cities; as our delegates said:

“The Smart Cities conference 2014 was an outstanding experience. Several of the conversations I had during the conference have translated into tangible projects with real outcomes” – Future Cities Lab

“There is the possibility to meet important and significant people at an event that is the right size. It is not a large expo, where you get lost in the crowd ” – Bilbao City Council

“Great line up of speakers and very insightful. I felt I was learning at the leading edge of Smart City thinking” – Milton Keynes Council

“One of the best SMART Cities event I’ve been to. A good mix of speakers and delegates.” – Happold Consulting

2015 sees the concept of Smart Cities continuing to evolve as the focus shifts to the citizen and their central place in the design of the smart city and the IoT applications and services that enable it. Services such as smart parking, mobility, energy, health, safety and security and many more are enabled by urban IoT as everything within the city becomes internet connected.

Agenda and speakers

Download the draft agenda here, to see what will be up for discussion. Our early-confirmed speakers include:

Ger Baron,Chief Technology Officer, City of Amsterdam

Cllr James Noakes,Mayoral lead for Energy and Smart City, Liverpool City Council

Geoff Snelson,Director of Strategy, Corporate Core, Milton Keynes

Petra Dalunde,Project manager and Communication Strategist at Stockholm Business Region Development, City of Stockholm